The former star said she came back to pro tennis for health coverage after being on Cobra.

BY KAYLA WEBSTER, STAFF EDITOR

Venus Williams on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025, on July 22 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Getty Images

Champion tennis player Venus Williams says she’s coming out of retirement because she needs health insurance, but industry experts say her example shows how little Americans understand their health care options.

Williams went viral after beating Peyton Stearns, the 35th-ranked player in the world, in straight sets Tuesday night. At age 45, Williams became the oldest woman to win a Women’s Tennis Association match since 2004. During a post-match interview, she revealed the reason she came back to the court is because she needed health insurance. 

“I had to come back for the insurance, because they informed me this year that I’m on Cobra. So it’s like, I got to get my benefits on,” Williams said. “I’m always at the doctor, so I need this insurance.”

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The U.S. Department of Labor requires employers to provide health insurance to former employees who lost their jobs, retired, or other qualifying circumstances. The plan, called Cobra, is........

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